GSCA 23-24: Kojonup firm claim as comp’s best, Broomehill win final over thriller and Tambellup bounce back

Kojonup made light work of Wanderers in the Great Southern Cricket Association on Saturday while Broomehill secured a nailbiting victory over Kendenup. After six rounds Kojonup are top of the GSCA ladder and have won their past three fixtures. Kojonup have firmed themselves as the competition’s best after chasing the Wanderers total in emphatic style at home. After being handed the task of chasing only 108 runs, ladder leaders Kojonup took just nine over to chase down Wanderers’ total. Skipper Liam Want (53 runs) again starred for his side scoring his fourth half-century for the year to steer his side to another victory. The Southern Smash draftee’s superb knock came from just 20 deliveries which included nine fours and two sixes, taking his average for the year to 70.75. He and opening partner Harry Taylor (25) chalked up a 65-run partnership before Want was dismissed by Ryan Sinclair. Taylor continued to deposit Wanderers’ bowling attack around the park, blasting four fours in his 13-ball 25 before falling to Darryl Sinclair. Kojonup’s Heath Brown (12) and Geoffrey Pethick (19) finished unbeaten as the Cougars completed their run chase two wickets down. Ryan Sinclair was the best bowler for Wanderers with 1-17. After winning the toss and electing to bat the Wanderers lost Ryan Sinclair (3) early when Nathan Smith had him caught. Tyron Pinney and Calvyn D’Sylva re-consolidated with a much-needed 49-run partnership. Lee Lucev found the breakthrough for Kojonup when Pinney was caught behind by Want before a spectacular run-out by Stratton Jones set D’Sylva back to the pavilion two runs later. Kojonup’s bowling attack combined to take the remaining wickets with very little damage done on the scoreboard. Brayden Reid (2-9) and Lucev (2-26) were the multiple wicket-takers. Reigning premiers Broomehill made it four in a row after a final over thriller with Kendenup in Kendenup on Saturday. A clutch last over from captain James Barritt steered his side to a one-run win over last season’s grand finalists. At 8-188, Kendenup headed into the final six balls needing eight runs for victory with Max Wright and Robert Wright at the crease. James Barritt stepped up to bowl the final six deliveries and after conceding five runs from the five deliveries, Kendenup needed three off the last. With a tight ring field and every Broomehill player on their toes, Max Wright dug out a James Barritt yorker for a single as the visitors hung on. Kendenup captain Clinton Gilbert (61) and young gun Jackob Douglas (35) did most of the run-chasing for the home side as the pair compiled a 72-run partnership through the middle overs. Broomehill’s tight bowling and regular wickets meant Kendenup fell to a 7-159. But wayward deliveries late in the piece brought their sundries total up to 29 letting Kendenup back into the fixture. Lewis Barritt took 1-31 from his nine overs while Max Holmes (2-23) was the most economical bowler for the Broomehill. Mac Crichton took 2-52 but bowled 10 sundries in his nine overs. Earlier Broomehill won the toss and elected to bat had found solid contributions from most of their top order. Kendenup’s Jeremy Groves dismissed Jack Batchelor for 10 before James Barritt and Crichton amassed an 86-run partnership. Ryan Bedford found the breakthrough when he dismissed James Barritt for 54 runs before Douglas caught-and-bowled Crichton for 48. Jarrad Ballard then ripped through Broomehill’s middle order claiming the scalps of Holmes, Bryce Hinchcliffe, and Murray Hayward all for single figure scores. Lewis Barritt’s brilliant season with the bat continued after scoring an unbeaten 52 to elevate his side to 195 at the end of their innings. Ballard led the bowling attack for the home side finishing with 3-28 from his nine overs. Tambellup found their way back on the winner’s list after beating Australs by 61 runs in Katanning on Saturday. Half-centuries from both of Tambellup’s openers proved the difference between the two sides. Flynn Cristinelli scored 51 at the top of the order while Shane Willmott top scored with 83. The Australs bowling attack, spearheaded by David Potter, bowled brilliant spells to restrict Tambellup’s batting power for the remainder of the innings. Potter claimed 4-38 from nine overs, including the scalp of Flynn Cristinelli, as the visitors lost 5-21 through the middle overs. Matt Hankinson bashed 31 from 21 balls to end the innings and lift his side to a total of 9-197. Australs struggled to formulate any significant partnership in their run chase before being bowled out for 136. Douglas top scored with 21 while Axle Pearce contributed 20. Tambellup opening bowler Bayley Drew did most of the damage for his side, claiming 3-10 from six overs.